Aim: The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk in Algerian dairies, to study the effect of seasons on the contamination of milk and the susceptibility of isolated strains to antibiotics, and to estimate the risk on the health consumer. Materials and Methods: The ISO method 6888-1 (1) was used for Staphylococcus screening. Antimicrobial susceptibility to the 11most used antibiotics in veterinary medicine was assessed using the disk diffusion assay. Results: The overall prevalence was 31.56% (95/301); 34.84% (85/244) from raw milk collectors cisterns (MCC), 22.73% (5/22) from mixing tank milk before pasteurization, and 14.29% (5/35) from pasteurized tank milk (p<0.05). A significant difference (p<0.001) of contamination on MCC was observed between dairies without season influence (p≥0.05). It was observed that 49.47% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin, 5.26% to tetracycline, 4.21% to erythromycin, 3.15% to neomycin, 2.10% to cefoxitin, 2.10% to clindamycin, and 1.05% to ofloxacin. No resistance was observed for vancomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: A high prevalence of S. aureus from MCC was observed without significant effect of season. The pasteurization does not ensure the elimination of bacteria in all samples. Half of the isolates were resistant to penicillin. These findings emphasize the importance of S. aureus control in Algerian milk industry at different levels to improve public health.

Background and Aim:During the last decades, reproduction performances declined dramatically worldwide, but little is known concerning the involvement of oxidative stress as a causative factor. Oxidative stress may act at different levels, with negative impacts on cell membrane integrity and other active molecules with potential subsequent effects on reproduction. The aim of the current study was to investigate the oxidative stress status in cows according to their reproductive performances.Materials and Methods:Peripheral blood concentration of two oxidative stress biomarkers, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and other biochemical parameters (glucose, total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, total proteins, calcium, urea, creatinine, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) were determined in 40 healthy cows. Body condition score (BCS), calving to first service interval (FSI), calving to conception interval (CCI), and the number of service per conception (SPC) were simultaneously recorded for each cow.Results:Concerning FSI, three groups were established: Group 1 (from 44 to 60 days), Group 2 (from 60 to 70 days), and Group 3 (from 70 to 80 days). For CCI, two groups were considered: Group 1 (<110 days) and Group 2 (>110 days). MDA showed significant high values only in cows with the lowest BCS (1.5) compared to cows with BCS note of 2.5 and 3.5. No significant difference was observed in cows oxidative stress status (MDA and GST) according to reproductive performances (FSI, CCI, and SPC) in all studied groups.Conclusion:The results revealed relatively altered oxidative stress status in cows with abnormal reproductive performances; however, no significant difference was recorded whatever the considered reproductive parameter.

Aim: This study aims to describe the clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of urolithiasis of the lower urinary tract and to determine the main risk factors involved in the occurrence of urinary lithiasis in cats in Algeria from 2016 to 2018. Materials and Methods: During the study period, 465 cats were examined and 32 cases of urolithiases were selected and investigated by conducting physical examinations, blood analyses, urinalysis, X-ray radiography, and ultrasonography. Parameters such as breed, age, or sex were studied and reported in a farm return to analyze risk factors involved in the formation of lower urinary urolithiasis. Results: The most clinically relevant symptoms of urolithiasis observed in cats were dysuria, pollakiuria, hematuria, and stranguria. Urinalysis and blood analysis revealed a significant presence of urinary crystals and acute kidney failure in nine cats. The ultrasonography and radiography confirmed the diagnosis of urolithiasis with the incidence of 43.75% and 31.25%, respectively. The lower urinary tract urolithiasis appeared to be more frequent in European and Siamese cats. In addition, cats aged between 4 and 8 years old were the most affected. Male cats (87.50%) were more affected than female cats. Finally, the lower urinary tract urolithiasis was more frequent in cats consuming the commercial pet food, previously castrated, and confined inside the house. Conclusion: Complete clinical assessments, in addition to complementary examinations, are necessary and beneficial in treating the animal and preventing possible complications. Whether the choice of therapy is surgical or treatment with drugs, it is crucial to understand that the elimination of the stone is not an end, but the beginning of a series of investigations. Because of their impact on both the formation and elimination of metabolites, it has been found that factors, such as race, gender, age, diet, and lifestyle, should be considered as potential risk factors for urolithiasis.

Introduction: In Algeria, the latest studies on Salmonella demonstrated warning contamination rates in farms and slaughterhouses. This pathogen can contaminate poultry meat and put humans at risk especially that such product is nowadays widely consumed. Methodology: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Algiers to evaluate prevalence, determine serotypes and quantify risk for Salmonella contamination in broiler chickens and turkeys at the post-chill stage of slaughter process. Results: batch prevalence was 63.1% for chickens and 34.9% for turkeys. Eleven serotypes were isolated from chickens and five from turkeys. The most predominant at both sample and batch levels was S. Kentucky either in chicken (65.1%) or in turkey carcasses (63.2%). Univariate analysis screened 3 variables for chickens and 5 variables for turkeys. Final multivariate regression models provided one potential risk factor for Salmonella contamination in each poultry species. Presence of less than 6 broilers simultaneously in the traditional scalding tank of small scale slaughterhouses had a significantly reduced contamination risk (OR = 0.31; p < 0.05). Slaughtering turkeys in sites processing only this specie than in mixed poultry slaughterhouses increased significantly the contamination probability (OR = 4.44; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study indicates a high prevalence of Salmonella-contaminated poultry carcass with wide diversity of serotypes. Moreover, two potential risk factors identified for the first time in Algeria are found to be associated with the lack in hygienic management on production sites. A real threat for consumers exists highlighting the imperative need for improved safety throughout the local poultry meat supply chain.

The present study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical screening, the acute toxicity, in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities of the Zizyphus lotus (Z lotus) leaf’s aqueous extract. The extract was subjected to phytochemical analysis, acute toxicity study, anti-inflammatory evaluation using carrageenan induced paw edema and the anti-diarrheal activity was assessed by the castor oil induced diarrhea inhibition method in laboratory rats. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, and triterpenoids. The extract at the doses used caused a significant (P< 0.05) reduction in the wet feces dumped by the rat with the castor oil-induced diarrhea, and decreased the distance travelled by the charcoal meal. The results showed that the extract of Zizyphus lotus has a significant antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory activity which supports its use in traditional herbal medicine practice.